Impossible Reality
Author's Notes: Am I fast? Or am I fast? *lolz* I already had this started when I finished the last chapter and I finished this quite quickly so… here it is… the second to the last chapter of my fic. Yeah… it is short but the events went on pretty quickly so, that's alright. :)
I realized that I'm making my readers confused when I took down the Prologue chapter of this story and by not uploading an explanatory note before the last chapter. Sorry…
Anyways, a bit more fluff here as Draco and Hermione realize their feelings for each other.
Disclaimers: Hohum… Nope, Draco is not mine (though I wish Tom Felton was *lolz*) and neither are Hermione, Harry, Ron, the other Weasleys, and the Grangers. They're all JK Rowling's creations. Also, I used one of Julie Garwood's quotes from her novel Ransom, which was said by Brodick. (sweet…)
Aftermath
The first thing that she saw was a white ceiling, then white walls, and an open window with white curtains. Turning her head slightly, she saw someone's head resting on the side of her bed. A male blonde head.
Draco.
She felt herself smile as her hand tried to reach and touch his hair. Suddenly, her head pounded as she saw flashbacks and she closed her eyes, a groan escaping from her lips.
"Mine," someone said, as a hand clasped hers and another brushed the hair on her forehead.
Her eyes fluttered open and she saw Draco leaning towards her.
"You're awake," he said, relief heard in his voice.
She smiled at him and patted the space on her bed. He sat down and helped her sit, propping the pillows behind her.
"What happened?" she asked him, remembering the hazy scenes she saw earlier.
His face sombered as he recounted the events that led her to her current state.
"You've been sleeping for two days," he started. "We worried you wouldn't wake. Lestrange hit you with the Cruciatus curse. But it was weak because she wasn't able to say it out loud. You… you fell from the top of the building of the Ministry. Angel caught you.
"When he did, you were shaking so badly but your eyes were close. Belle said the counter-curse but you still wouldn't open your eyes. We rushed you here at St. Mungo's," he related, and finished with a sigh.
"When you fell, I thought I was going to lose you," he said as he caressed her cheek.
"But you didn't," she whispered, leaning into his touch.
She looked at him and her breath was caught in her throat. His grey eyes looked back at her with warmth… and something else much deeper that she couldn't decipher. His blond hair was messy as if he hadn't combed it in days. The buttons of his black shirt was unbuttoned. And then she realized that he hasn't left her side all the times she was unconscious.
Tears started gathering at her eyes as she said, "You haven't left."
His finger caught the first tear that fell.
"I wanted to make sure you'd be alright," he told her.
She nodded.
"Now that I am, what are you going to do?"
He smirked.
"This," and he lowered his head towards hers, capturing his lips with his own.
He kissed her softly, gently, teasing her, until she couldn't take it anymore she grew bold. She touched her tongue on his lips, timidly at first, probing, testing, and he got the message as he began to kiss her deeply. She felt her heart beat wildly as his tongue sank into her mouth and stroked with hers. He was kissing her thoroughly, telling her without words how much he wants her and she was responding to him the same way, her passion equaling his.
He tore his mouth away from hers and began trailing kisses on her face, then down her neck. They were breathing deeply and he leaned his forehead on her shoulder.
"I love you," she heard herself whisper.
Startled at what she had just said, she clamped her hand over her mouth as Draco lifted his head and looked at her.
"What did you say?" he asked, his eyes boring into hers.
"I… I said… that… I…" she stammered, when the door flew open and the Weasleys, Harry, and her parents came in.
"You're awake!" Ginny shrieked happily.
Draco pulled away from her and stood up. He fixed himself and silently strode towards the door as everyone gathered around her bed. She smiled at them and answered their questions as she dimly heard Draco and Ron speak to one another.
"You better go home and rest," Ron commented as she was leaned on the wall when Draco walked past him.
"I'll be back," he answered him.
"Sleep soundly first," Ron repeated. "You look like hell." And he walked towards her bed and joined in the chaos.
Draco, on the other hand, glanced back at her, before he finally went out.
~*~
She was falling into an endless tunnel, the darkness closing in on her. She tried to scream for help, but no words came out. She started thrashing, fighting to get out of her pending doom… when a hand touched her brow gently and someone whispered soothing words that calmed her down.
"Shhh… It's alright. I'm here," it said.
Breathing deeply, she slowly opened her eyes, the light blinding her for a few seconds, before her eyesight adjusted. She realized that it was just a dream. Turning her head slightly, she saw the person who had soothed her nerves and drove away her nightmare.
It was Draco.
Malfoy.
The person she though she would hate forever, who became the person that she'll love for eternity.
Frowning, she turned away from him. She does not want to discuss her sudden revelation to him right now. It was the least of her concerns at the moment. Besides, she knows that he does not love her. He has just grown accustomed to having her around. He may be fond of her now, but he'll never love her.
"What?" his voice interrupted her thoughts. "You hate me again?"
"Yes," she answered as if it should have been obvious. But inside, she wanted to shout No! and smack him for asking such a ludicrous question.
"Really?" he said so softly that she wanted to hug him and take back her answer. "Why won't you look at me?"
"'Cause I don't want to," she mumbled.
"Why?"
"I just don't want to, alright," she snapped at him as she briefly looked at him before turning her back against him again.
"Mine…"
"Don't call me that!"
He sighed. "We need to talk."
"We have nothing to talk about. Our mission's over so we have nothing more to say to each other."
"Don't be stubborn!"
"Who's being stubborn?!"
She was looking at him now and they were glaring at each other. Just like before. She almost teared up at the thought.
"Look…"
She lied on her back and looked at the ceiling.
"Will you listen to me?"
"I'm listening."
"Then look at me."
"I don't have to look at you because I use my ears when I listen, not my eyes."
He exhaled loudly and said, "Just look at me and tell me that you don't love me… that you were just caught in the moment… then I'll leave."
He was giving her a way out. But as she slowly turned to look at him, she couldn't find it in herself to lie to him. As her tears started welling up, she turned on the other side, curled up, and whispered, "I can't."
"Why?"
"Because… I love you."
She felt him sit on the bed and she inched away from him. But apparently, he had other thoughts as he suddenly gathered her in his arms and hugged her.
"Marry me."
"What?!" she asked as she pushed herself from him to look at him.
"Marry me," he repeated.
"You're kidding."
"I'm not."
"You must still be sleepy."
"Frankly, I've only had about three hours of undisturbed sleep but I've never felt more awake in my entire life."
"Are you out of your mind?"
"Maybe I am."
"Then, why are you asking me that?"
"Because you've made your commitment to me when you told me you love me. Nothing else matters. You're mine now. Do you honestly believe I'm going to let you go?"
She was stunned at what he said. But she's not going to give in just because of that short, but sweet speech.
"No," she said, as she got off his lap and sat on the bed.
"No?" he echoed.
"No," she repeated firmly.
"Why not?"
"You don't love me."
"Says who?"
She tried a different tactic. "It's too fast."
"Then we'll take it slow."
She tried another one. "You're going to have to court me first."
"Then I will."
"Then you're going to love me."
"I already do."
She snorted at that and scoffed at the idea.
Then he suddenly smirked.
"Malfoys always get what they want," he stated. "Especially this Malfoy."
And as if to emphasize his point, he kissed her. She resisted at first, but she's unable to resist for too long and just when she started to respond, he broke off the kiss. Then, he grinned triumphantly at her, before ordering her to go back to sleep and tucking her in.
~*~
He was right. Malfoys do get what they want. But, she wasn't about to tell him that. Frankly, he already had her when he told her that he's not going to let her go. But, she's insecure… and scared. After all, this is a Malfoy we're talking about. The one who strutted in Hogwarts and looked down at everyone, especially on Muggle-borns. However, he's also the one who makes her heart race and her skin tingle, and the one willing to risk his life for her.
He was persistent, patient, and over-all charming. He still has that arrogant side, though. He'd tease her endlessly that she had fallen for him for the longest time now, that she's unable to resist the Malfoy charm. But, he's shown her a different side, too.
He is actually interested in the Muggle way of life, on how Muggles live without magic, much like Ron's dad. And when she tells him that, he'd just glare at her then he'd abruptly change the topic. He's really open-minded, too, when he relented that they watch what the Muggles call a movie one time and saw Kate and Leopold. He had admitted that he liked it but he wasn't about to repeat it any time soon.
He's every bit the romantic also, but shows it in a very different way. He had bullied her to going to Paris with him and insisted that he's there on business when she told him he's being sweet one night while having a candlelight dinner outside her balcony, facing the Eiffel Tower. He had summoned her to Venice and told her that he needs her expertise on Muggles in a decision he is about to make, but instead of expounding on that subject, he regaled her with tidbits of the Magical History of Venice, while they toured the city riding on a gondola. And when he gives her a book, he'd just shrug and say that he hasn't seen it in her collection yet.
What was surprising was how deep their conversation can get, and how open they can be with one another. He told her how envious he was of her relationship with Harry and Ron. She told him how fascinating it must be to be surrounded by magic his entire life. He told her how much he wanted to go against his father when he was still alive. She told him how scared she was when the Final Battle happened. He told her how he actually respected her in Hogwarts but couldn't talk to him civilly because of how he was brought up and because of his father's spies. She told him how his head of House always gets on her nerves.
~*~
Four months later…
"Why won't you just accept it?"
"This is the twentieth book you've given me."
"So? Who's counting?"
"I am," she snapped.
"Just take it."
"I don't want to."
"You don't like it?"
"I didn't say that…"
"Then just take it," he repeated.
She sighed. She just can't seem to win an argument when Draco and a book are involved. Or rather, she can't win anything when it concerns Draco's gift-giving.
"Fine… Thanks," she said, as she flopped on the sofa and began flipping the pages.
He sat down on the other end of the seat, to which she promptly grabbed a pillow, placed it on his lap, and laid her head on it. He gently stroked her head as she read, while his other arm was wrapped around her waist, his hand clasping hers.
He was lulling her to sleep with his stroking. She put the book down on the tale and shifted her head for a more comfortable position. She closed her eyes and was slowly drifting to sleep when he placed a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you."
Her eyes flew open and she lied on her back and looked at him.
"Did you say something?" she asked.
He frowned at her and answered, "No. Why?"
"Nothing," and she turned on her side again.
She wasn't feeling sleepy anymore as she mulled over at his answer. She's quite positive that she heard him say those three little words. It was said so softly that she wasn't sure if she heard right so she had to ask him. But he denied it and now she wasn't so certain.
But if he did say it, why would he deny it? Her head spun as she tried to think of his reasons. So, she closed her eyes and slowly, she felt that sleep would soon consume her when she heard it again, more softly this time.
"I love you."
Her heart leapt and she bolted upright. She twisted around to face him and she hugged him tightly.
With tears starting to fall from her eyes, she whispered, "Yes."
"What?" he asked as he gently pulled away from her and looked into her eyes.
Smiling, she answered shakily as she placed a hand on his cheek, "Yes, I'll marry you."
Last notes: I know that the movie Kate and Leopold was shown in the late 2001 but… let's just pretend that it was shown much, much earlier in London… say, around July or August? ^^; Because I really liked this movie and I thought that this movie would make Draco like this part of Muggle life… which is watching movies! *lolz*
And… I like the last part of this chapter. I think it was sweet. But that's just me. What do you think?
Lastly… Thanks for reading and please do leave a review. :)
